When In Romance

Jess and Trisha cover a grab bag of topics before talking about backlist romances they’re glad to have found this year.

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Book club is back!! We’re reading Witchmark by CL Polk, so give it a read and send us your thoughts by Sept. 15.

Here’s the link to the Apollycon statement we mentioned.

Get excited about the Black Romance Book Club (especially if you live in Canada)!

The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Coffee Boy by Austin Chant

An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire by Manda Collins

Wild Rain and Tempest by Beverly Jenkins

Hold Me by Courtney Milan

The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary

Let us know what backlist books you’ve discovered so far this year, and what you think of Witchmark. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about Fire Island and the essence of a good retelling/adaptation, and offer up some recommendations for Disability Pride Month.

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Book Riot is hiring!

Check out our Best Books of the Year So Far.

MidContinent Public Library’s RomanceGenreCon is back!

Watch Fire Island on Hulu!

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Husband Material by Alexis Hall

Redeemed by Maggie Blackbird

Can’t Escape Love by Alyssa Cole

Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh

Only When It’s Us by Chloe Liese

Knot My Type and Love Flushed by Evie Mitchell

The Bride Test and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Tell us what you liked about Fire Island and send us your recs for disabled protagonists! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about the appeal (or not) of the enemies to lovers trope and then offer some picks for their best romances of 2022 so far.

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Book Riot is hiring!

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

Knot Again by Kwana Jackson (Coming July 26, 2022)

A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

A Brush With Love by Mazey Eddings

Tanked by Mia Hopkins

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

We got to some of your picks for favorite reads of 2022, but not all of them, so keep sharing your faves – front AND back list! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Book club is back as Jess and Trisha discuss The Beast by Katee Robert and then dive into the distinctions between steamy romance, erotic romance, and erotica. 

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Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston has some updates.

Here’s the discussion Jess mentioned between Katee Robert and Beverly Jenkins [insert heart eyes here!]

The Beast by Katee Robert

Looking by Katrina Jackson 

American Royalty by Tracey Livesay

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria

The Eastside Brewery series (first book is Thirsty) by Mia Hopkins

Spoiler Alert and All the Feels by Olivia Dade

Syncopation by Anna Zabo

A Gentleman in the Streets by Alisha Rai (AOC)

The Rose by Tiffany Reisz

Harbor by Rebekah Weatherspoon

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice, writing as A.N. Roquelaure

Tell us what you thought of The Beast, your thoughts on erotic romance and erotica, and anything else you’re thinking or reading about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha do a few updates, dive into a recent film that lives in the romance world (in more ways than one), and talk about some of the books they’re excited about for the rest of 2022.

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Don’t forget! Read The Beast by Katee Robert to join in the WIR Book Club fun, and send us your thoughts by June 23.

The Lost City is waiting for you. 

Here’s the Book Riot post by Annika Barranti Klein about fat representation on romance covers.

You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Husband Material by Alexis Hall (Coming August 2, 2022)

The Stand-Up Groomsman by Jackie Lau (Coming October 25, 2022) 

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen (Coming August 23, 2022)

A Ghost in Shining Armor by Therese Beharrie (Coming September 27, 2022) 

Partners In Crime by Alisha Rai (Coming October 18, 2022)

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazie Eddings (Coming September 6, 2022)

Tell us what you thought of The Lost City, what romances you’re excited about in the coming year, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about weddings in romance: why there are so many, their ties to different tropes, why all the weddings can be a problem, and some recommendations that include weddings in one way or another.

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Read The Beast by Katee Robert to join in the WIR Book Club fun, and send us your thoughts by June 23.

Mechanics of Love by Meka James

The Emma Project by Sonali Dev

American Sweethearts by Adriana Herrera

The Billionaire’s Last Minute Marriage by Amanda Cinelli 

Running Away With the Bride by Sophia Singh Sasson

Not Another Family Wedding Jackie Lau

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare 

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

Tell us what you think about weddings in romance and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about their current reads, romance novel cover history, and backlist books to add to – or move up on – your TBR.

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Read The Beast by Katee Robert to join in the WIR Book Club fun, and send us your thoughts by June 23.

“The Steamy, Throbbing History of Romance Novel Covers” by Kelly Faircloth [Jezebel]

“Hey Right Quick: Fabio Was on Just a Minority of Romance Covers” by Kelly Faircloth [Jezebel]

“The Origin of Romance Novel Clinch Covers” by Jessica Avery [Book Riot]

“How Are Romance Novel Covers Made?” by Sarah Nicolas [Book Riot]

Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh (May 3, 2022)

Tanked by Mia Hopkins

Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai

All the Feels by Olivia Dade

A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley

Tell us what backlist books you’d recommend, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha share some listener recommendations and other updates, announce a new book club book, and talk about authors who are new to them. 

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It’s time again for book club!! Read The Beast by Katee Robert to join in the fun, and send us your thoughts by June 23.

The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Love Him Free by EM Lindsey

I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson

Tell us about your favorite “new to you” authors, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess is joined by special guest Liberty Hardy, Book Riot’s resident velocireader. Important questions are asked and answered, and they wander into the world of monster romance.

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Thirsty, Trashed, and Tanked by Mia Hopkins

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

Deceived by the Gargoyle by Lillian Lark

Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nascosta

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon and Mistlefoe by Kimberly Lemming

The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert

Sing Me to Sleep by RM Virtues

Thanks to Liberty Hardy for joining as a special guest! Listen to her on All The Books and All The Backlist podcasts, read her posts on Book Riot proper and the New Books newsletter, and find her on Instagram @franzencomesalive. Send us your favorite monster romances, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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Jess and Trisha talk about recent romance (bad) news stories and recommend romances with main characters above the age of 40. 

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Please keep in mind that many of this week’s news stories contain topics that could be triggering for listeners/readers.

A TikTok explaining the Eros and Dana Isaly story

An article by Alyssa Shotwell [The Mary Sue] about the reactions to ableism in the summary of Cora Reilly’s A Touch of Fate

A Twitter thread with some information on the backlash and harassment related to Jennifer L. Armentrout’s new book

Per another article by Alyssa Shotwell [The Mary Sue], somehow there are still romances about Nazis being sold…

…And we’re also still dealing with books about enslavers. 

But!! In happier news!! Margo Hendricks’ Masterclass on Indigo by Beverly Jenkins is available online for anyone to enjoy!

And here are a couple of Book Riot lists about romances with older main characters from Jess and our friend Annika.

At Your Service by Sandra Antonelli

If You Love Something by Jayce Ellis

Something About You by Reese Ryan

The Wedding Bait by Adele Buck 

Autumn by Cole McCade

Second Wind by Ceillie Simkiss

Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan

Send us your favorite romances feature older (or even just “older”) couples, and let us know what else you’re reading and thinking about. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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